Free Web NovelChapter 556: Chapter 198: Underwater Crisis, Wilderness Tactics! (Part 2)
Three days, seventy-two hours.
When taking on the assessment task, everyone had optimistic thoughts; even if there was danger, it wouldn’t come on the first day.
Once the camp is set up and there’s a defense, risks should be controllable.
But now the foundations haven’t been cleared, only two hours into the work, could there already be casualties?
Cheng Ye stepped forward, patted Liu Jianjun’s shoulder, took over the conversation, his voice clearly echoed through the field:
"In the Red Zone, two residents were just injured and killed, attacked by mutant water leeches jumping out from underwater while clearing the riverbank. But everyone, rest assured, in our Blue Zone, we don’t have to deal with these troubles at the banks, so the danger is controllable!"
To soothe people’s hearts, the best method is transparency of information; otherwise, any assurance is mere empty talk.
With transparent information, these refugees willing to venture out are far clearer about the response measures when danger strikes than those inside the formation.
Sure enough, once the words were spoken, the whispers in the crowd reduced slightly, but the worry remained.
Cheng Ye was not surprised, casually picked five relatively calm men from the residents: "You five, put down the tools, come with me to the river’s edge for a look."
The five exchanged glances and indeed did not refuse, obediently put down the shovels and walked behind him.
Just as Luokuke reminded, dangers in the wilderness are never reliable purely based on information provided by others.
This assertion is increasingly proven now.
"Li Jie, bring three patrol members, Liu Jianjun, you also bring three members, follow me."
Cheng Ye again pointed to the patrol team, leading the way towards the river’s edge.
Actually, as shown by Firewood Communication, the Blue Zone covers areas surrounding the river, but the path to the river’s edge falls within the Red Zone, so it’s entirely possible to wait for the Red Zone to clear the road and attract risks by the river before cleaning up.
The group followed the newly cleared path towards the embankment, the closer they got to the river, the heavier the stench in the air became.
This is a scent completely absent during the last flood, with a moist, decaying smell making one’s stomach churn.
Cheng Ye frowned, slowed his pace, raised a hand signaling the team to follow him, keeping a distance without spreading out.
Turning through two streets filled with crumbling walls, the flowing White Water River suddenly appeared before them.
Compared to over ten days ago, today the river water is even clearer and brighter, the sunlight piercing down, reflecting fragmented silver glimmers on the water, dazzling the eyes.
What surprised Cheng Ye slightly was that the riverbank’s dike seemed to have been repaired.
He quickly walked closer, couldn’t help but making a sound of surprise, all previous cracks on the dike were sealed seamlessly with light yellow adhesive clay.
At the diversion point between White Water River and Yellow River, the spot previously broken down by floods, a section of alloy corridor emitting a dark sheen has been erected, and glancing into the distance, even the dike of Yellow River can be seen sporting similar corridors for preventing riverbank erosion.
"This..."
Cheng Ye paused in disbelief, how could there be such significant changes in two rivers in just over ten days?
However, this surprise didn’t last long, continuing to turn his head, his gaze rapidly attracted by the throng ahead of the embankment.
Over twenty individuals were forming a small circle, their faces solemn as they guarded two bodies on the ground.
Both bodies were shriveled, as if all bodily fluids were drained, leaving just a layer of dried skin on bones, looking shocking.
At the sight of the open space beside the crowd, no matter having seen many grotesque, terrifying infected bodies, Cheng Ye still felt chills crawling. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
The so-called "mutant water leech" turned out to be as big as a calf, over eighty centimeters long.
The dark brown body was covered in slime, the most terrifying thing was its mouthpart, opening larger than an adult’s head, lined with rows of dense barbs bigger than saw teeth, flashing cold in the sunlight.
Damn!
The thought of this creature suddenly flying out of the water and leaping on a person to suck blood made Cheng Ye’s skin prickle with goosebumps.
Fortunately, the dozen people following him seemed not too panicked, finding it was indeed a water leech, a few even sighed with relief.
Clearly, compared to elusive and skillfully bizarre infected bodies, this mutant creature is much easier to deal with.
Cheng Ye tilted his head, looked beside him and asked, "Li Jie, seems like you’ve seen this thing before?"
"Yes, sir!" Li Jie, tall and slim, nodded immediately, with a touch of familiarity in his tone, "Such mutant water leeches are most common in the river ditches of Sand Province, but this big size hasn’t been seen frequently."
"This creature fears fire and strong light, as long as you light a flame on the riverbank ahead and shine the spotlight on the water, they basically wouldn’t dare approach. Besides, don’t be fooled by its bigger size and fast blood-sucking, its flying speed is very slow, its body is soft, even a random shot can pierce through it."
The common mutant creatures of Sand Province naturally become threats when in Stone Province.
Just like how inland people rarely eat seafood, for those families living in mining fields, never seeing such things is concerning for vigilance. freёweɓnovel.com
Cheng Ye did not recklessly lead people near the bodies, but waited for Luokuke’s return, then approached to stand by for subsequent processing.
Seeing Luokuke take a small paper packet from his backpack, sprinkle some light yellow powder on the two shriveled bodies.
Once the powder touched the bodies, it immediately emitted a piercing stench, the previously dried skin surface suddenly reveals layers of fine white spots, like some hidden substance being activated.
As the scent grew more intense, Luokuke signaled Red Zone people to open the prepared body bags, load the bodies, and instructed for four inflated balloons to be stuffed inside too.
